Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis.  It is correctly pronounced as “plantar fash-eee-eye-tiss”.  What is it? 

Well, plantar faciitis is a condition of heel pain.  It causes the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament which runs along the bottom of the foot.  The plantar fascia ligmanet is made of firous bands of tissue and runs between the heel bone and your toes and stretches with every step.  Inflammation develops when tears occur in the tissue. 

The most common complaint you will have is a burning, stabbing, or aching pain in the heel of the foot.  Most people who suffer from it feel it in the morning because of the fascia ligament tightening up at night while you are asleep, causing the pain to stop.  But, when you climb out of bed in the morning and put pressure on this ligament, it becomes tight, and the pain is quite acute.  The pain usually decreases as the tissue warms up, but could return again quite easily after long periods of standing, weight bearing, physical activity, or after getting up after long periods of sitting.

In most cases, it does not require surgery or other procedures.  But, every person’s body responds differently, and recovery times vary.

The cause?  There are a few.  The plantar fasia ligament is like an elastic band and loosens and contracts with movement.  It also sustains alot of weight and pressure.  Due to this function, one of the common causes is too much exercise.  Athletes are most prone to it and commonly suffer from it.  Also, excessive running, jumping, or other activities can place repetitive or excessive stress on the tissue which can lead to tears and inflammation.  As a result you can develop moderate to severe pain.

Another cause is arthritis.  Certain types of arthritis can cause inflammation to develop in tendons, resulting in plantar faciitis.  Diabetes is also a factor that can contribute to this condition.  This is more common among the elderly.

The most popular factor , however, is wearing incorrect shoes.  The shoes may not fit properly, or may not provide adequate support or cushioning.  When walking or exercising in improper shoes, weight distribution becomes impaired, and significant stess can be added to the fascia ligament.